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By Tana Shealey

Special to The Lowndes Signal

Our “little engine that could,” the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Office (ACES) of Lowndes County, collaborated with stakeholders at two different events on May 2. First, was an early start with almost four hundred energetic senior citizens at the annual May Fest at Beulah Wellness Center in Hope Hull.

This year’s theme, “ABCs of God Health” was a perfect venue full of stakeholders wearing brightly colored t-shirts, singing, exercising, talking with vendors and enjoying healthy snacks and lunch at the almost day-long event. It ended with a free vegetable giveaway for seniors around 2 p.m.

Senior Ministry Coordinator Negatha Holt for Beulah Primitive Baptist Church said more than thirty sponsors and vendors made the event possible.

“We provided seniors with various health and educational information that can enhance and enrich their lives. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors for their continued support in making this event a proud achievement for all involved,” Holt said.

Participating in this annual event allows the Extension office a chance to share educational materials for seniors on everything from nutrition, money management, estate planning and healthy exercise and diet plans. 

Healthcare providers offered seniors screenings including blood pressure, hearing and vision. Representatives from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s office gave seniors a CPR presentation and talked with them about avoiding fraud.

“We gave our stakeholders some wonderful water bottles that are easy to carry while walking or exercising to help them keep hydrated,” said Audri Hunter, administrative support associate II for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Office in Lowndes County.

Extension TES Support team member Stacey Woodley answered questions about severe weather preparedness workshops.

“We took down contact information from some Lowndes County residents who have not had a chance to attend our severe weather preparedness workshops wanting to have workshops at their churches,” Woodley stated.

Holt said the annual event is a labor of love for the community.

“We are honored to continue the work initiated by the late Theresa Gardner Douglass,” she explained. “Our aim is to provide a day for celebrating and entertaining seniors from Lowndes and surrounding counties.”

Sponsors included: Cadence Bank, Casey Farm, Alabama 7th District Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell, First Citizens Bank, Garner Flooring & Design, Scott Garrett, the Lowndes County Commission, Lowndes County District Judge Adrian Johnson, Lowndes County Probate Judge LaShanda Myrick, Lowndes County Tax Collector Rosalyn Smith, Lowndes County Tax Assessor Connie Moorer Thomas, Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West, Louise Pitts, South Central Alabama Development Commission Area Agency on Aging, Trotman Brothers Roofing and Construction, LLC, Ace Hardware, Baptist, Inc, Hayneville AG, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, Sam’s Warehouse, Winn Dixie, Westport, and Woods Pecan Company.

Vendors included the South-Central Alabama Development Commission Area Agency on Aging, the Alabama Securities Commission, Ariel Home Medical, Central Veterans Affairs: Suicide Prevention, Oak Street Health, Social Security Administration, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Lowndes County team.

Tana Shealey is Lowndes County County Extension Director.

ACES is proud to be among those who participated in this event. If your group has an upcoming program at which one of our Extension Agents, Specialists, or Educators might be able to participate, please contact the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at 334.548.2315.